Matrix device for use in stopping or filling teeth or for similar purposes.



F. J. BONNALIE. MATRIX DEVICE FOR USE IN STOPPING OR FILLING TEETH OR FOR SIMILAR PURPOSES. APPLICATION FILED MAR. 17,1913.

1,097,520. Patented May 19, 1914.

g, .F/G.

1TH il STATE PATENT OFFICE.

FREDERICK JOHN BONNALIE, OF CHESTER, ENGLAND.

MTATBIX DEVICE FOR USE IN STOPPING OR FILLING- IEETH OR FOR SIMILAR PURPOSES.

Application filed March 17, 1913.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, Fnnonnron JOHN BONNALIE, a subject of the King of Great Britain, residing at 7 Abbey Square, Chestor, in the county of Chester, England, have invented certain new and useful Improve ments in and Relating to Matrix Devices for Use in Stopping or Filling 'lleeth or for Similar Purposes, of which the following is a specification,

This invention relates to matrix devices for use in stopping or filling teeth or for similar purposes, and particularly concerns that kind of device which comprises a band of metal or other suitable material mounted in the form of a loop upon a frame and connected to a device, such as a rod or block, movable longitudinally upon the frame for the purpose of adjusting the size of the loop around a tooth for instance, the looped band forming a kind of mold for the stopping or filling material.

The improved construction of matrix device is very simple and can be manipulated with great facility.

According to the present invention, a slot is provided in the f ame preferably near one end thereof, both ends of the loop being passed closely together through such slot so that when the looped band is applied to a tooth and tightened or restricted it will practically entirely surround the tooth, and a roller is mounted in the said slot for the purpose of facilitating movement of the matrix band through the slot. The provision of the roller is important as it renders it very easy to tighten or loosen the band around a tooth while the matrix device is in the mouth of a patient, by reason of the fact that the band moves easily through the slot. The ends of the loop of the matrix band after being passed through the slot in the holder are preferably connected or secured directly by a set-screw within a slot in a block on one end of a rod or plunger which is mounted on the frame and is adapted to be moved longitudinally of the frame by a nut or other suitable device in well-known manner.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Serial No. 75L98.

In order to enable the invention to be readily understood, reference is directed to the accompanying drawings, of which Figure 1 is a plan view, to an enlarged scale, of one construction of matrix device. Fig. 2 is an elevation to the same scale of the device shown. in Fig. 1, but omitting the matrix band. Fig. 3 is a sectional plan view of the arrangement shown in Figs. 1 and 2, but showing the matrix band adjusted or constricted around a tooth, and, Fig, l is a sectional plan view of part of a modified arrangement, to the same scale as the other figures.

According to the construction shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, the matrix consists of a thin flexible band a of German silver, or it may be of any other suitable metal, and the frame consists of a piece of metal 6 of L shape in section, from the short arm of which there extends a hollow stem 0 for receiving a rod or plunger (Z to which the matrix band a is secured as will be hereinafter described. The rod (Z passes through the aforesaid arm of the Lshaped member Z), as shown clearly in Fig. 3, and at the corresponding end has secured to it a small piece or block of metal 0 having a flat face which when the rod (Z is operated moves parallel or approximately so, to the inner face g of the other and longer arm of the member 6. The other end or head of the rod d extends beyond the free end of the tube or stem 0 and is screw-threaded, as shown at h in Fig. 3, for the reception of a milled head nut in which when turned in one direction operates upon the rod so as to cause the block 0 to move toward the short arm of the member I), for instance into the position shown in Fig. 3, owing to the nut bearing on the end of the tube 0, while, when the nut 70 is unscrewed by turning it in the opposite direction, the rod (Z with block 6 can be moved in the opposite direction and returned to the normal or original position, for instance as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, by holding the tube and applying pressure to the nut is, The longer arm of the member 5 is formed with a transverse slot Z near one Patented May 19, 1914.

end and the block 6 is also slotted transversely as shown at m. To mount the matrix band (a on its frame the slot at in the block a and the slot Z in the member 7) are first brought into alinement, as shown in Figs, 1 and 2, the band is then bent into the form of a loop and the two ends bent and brought close together parallel to each other. The ends of the band are then passed through the slot Z in the member 6 and into the slot m in the block 6, as shown in Fig. 1,

. and the ends are secured in the slot in the .the block 6 toward the short arm of the member 2) the band a can be drawn through the slot Z in the longer arm of the member 6 so as to lessen the size of the loop, as shown for instance in 3. The slot Z in the member 6 preferably is rather wide, as shown in Figs. 1 to 3, so as to permit a roller 0 to be mounted therein in order to facilitate the movement of the band through the slot, but so that the ends of the band may be close together where they pass through the slot. Moreover the stem or tube 0 may be provided with a rib, flange or projection such as p at about the middle thereof, so that when it is desired to return the rod (Z to its normal position, as above described, this can readily be effected by placing the tube 0 between the first and second fingers of the hand with the rib p in engagement with the fingers, and by then pressing the nut 70, after it has been unscrewed, with the thumb. Or instead of the rib, flange or projection, the tube may be milled or otherwise fashioned, for the same purpose, as will be readily understood.

In operation, the looped'matrix band mounted upon its holder is first placed over the tooth, and the nut Z: on the head of the rod or plunger (Z is then turned so as to cause the block 6, to move toward the short arm of the member 6 and draw the loop closely around the tooth, as shown for example in Fig. 3, wherein the tooth a has a cavity 4; to be filled. After the tooth has been filled all that is necessary in order to remove the matrix band is to unscrew the nut in, press back the rod (Z, loosen the set screw 17, and move the frame away from the tooth whereupon the band is pulled quite easily from out of the slot in the frame and can be readily removed from the tooth while the frame can also be easily removed from the mouth of the patient.

In a modified form of device, shown in Fig. l, the aforesaid set-screw n, for securing the ends of the matrix band a, and the slot m in the block 6 are dispensed with, the block 6 in this case being provided with a tapped hole r so as to form a nut for receiving the screw-threaded end of the rod or plunger (Z, and the ends of the matrix band (L being perforated as at s so as to pass over the rod (Z before the latter is screwed into the hole 0 in said block, the latter thus serving to retain the ends of the matrix band pen the rod or plunger (Z. Also a nut t may be threaded upon the rod (Z, as shown, in order to secure the ends of the band (2 against the block 6 and in order to assist in loosening the band when the block 6 is returned to normal position from an adjusted position.

l/Vhat I claim is 1. A. matrix device for use in filling teeth and for similar purposes, comprising a flexible matrix band bent into the form of a loop, a frame having a slot through which both ends of said band pass closely together, a roller mounted in said slot, a member movable longitudinally upon said frame, means for clamping the ends of said band to said movable member and means for operating said movable member for the purpose of drawing said band through said slot in order to adjust the size of said loop.

2. A matrix device for use in filling teeth and for similar purposes, comprising a flexible matrix band bent into the form of a loop, a frame having a slot through which both ends of said band pass, a roller mounted in said slot, a movable rod on said frame, a block secured at one end of said rod and having a slot for receiving the ends of said band, a clamping screw directly operative upon the ends of the band so as to clamp same in the slot in t ie block, and means to operate said rod.

3. A matrix device for use in filling teeth and for similar purposes, comprising a flexible matrix band bent into the form of a loop, a frame comprising an L-shaped member and a hollow stem extending from one arm of said member, the other arm of said member having a slot through which both ends of said band pass closely together, a roller mounted in said slot, a movable rod mounted within said hollow stem, means for operatively connecting the ends of said band to one end of said rod, a screw-threaded portion at the other end of said rod, and a not on said screw-threaded portion arranged to bear against the end of said hollow stem for causing movement of said rod.

4. A matrix for use in filling teeth and for similar purposes, comprising a flexible matrix band bent into the form of a loop, an L-shaped member, a hollow stem extending from one arm of said member, the other arm of said member having a slot through which both ends of said band pass closely together, a roller mounted in said slot, an annular flange upon said hollow stem, a movable rod mounted Within said hollow stem, a block secured at one end of said rod, said block having a slot for receiving the ends of said band, a set-screw for clamping said band at said ends in said second-mentioned slot, a screw threaded portion at the other end of said rod and a nut upon said screw-threaded portion adapted to bear against the end of said hoi- 10W stem.

FREDERICK JOHN BONNALIE.

Witnesses G. NAYLon, H. WlLLIAMS.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

